Zimbabwe Emergency Response Fund Update February 2012

The Emergency Response Fund (ERF) Advisory Board met on 21 February 2012 and reviewed six projects for funding totalling US$896,103. The meeting chaired by the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) Mr Alain Noudehou approved project proposals under emergency school repairs addressing three of the provinces that suffered worst storm damage in the current rains seasons, typhoid response in Harare and two in food security covering three worst affected provinces.

On policy guidance, the Board resolved to set aside US$500,000 to be retained in the Fund to facilitate quick response to an emergency. Access to these funds will be discussed in the next meeting. Following the allocation of US$896,103, the balance has dropped to approximately US$700,000 of which only US$200,000 is currently available to partners. In the meantime, the HC will start fundraising activities to replenish the ERF.

In addition, the HC requested ERF Board Members nominating authorities such as the INGO heads of Agencies forum, Nango and the UNCT to review their nominees to the Board as each is supposed to serve one year on the Board before rotating al-though the nominating body could renew the sitting member’s tenure.

Regarding the approved projects, the Board committed US$250,000 to the Education Cluster applications for school repairs as follows: Plan International will repair six schools in Mwenezi and Chivi districts in Masvingo Province with a grant of US$90,000, World Vision will be working in Matebeleland South Province and will repair 10 schools in five districts with a grant of US$89,000 while Mavambo Trust will carry out repairs in 14 schools in Mashonaland East using a grant of US$70,000.

The Board urged the implementing organizations to keep the Ministry of Education engaged in the process of repairing the classrooms to ensure good quality of repairs.

GAA was granted US$146,103 for carrying out rehabilitation work on sanitation facilities in council managed clinics in Kuwadzana and Dzivarasekwa in Harare. The works will also include establishment of hand washing facilities as well as building of new toilets where required. The project fills in a gap in the response activities to prevent further spread of typhoid in these neighbourhoods. GAA will work closely with the city engineers to implement this six months intervention.